One banana, two bananas, three bananas! More! Four bananas make a bunch and so do many more! Making a Soft Toy is like that. Take it one step or ‘banana’ at a time and you will get a whole ‘bunch’ done!

“Free” Starfish Sewing Tutorial…. Doesn’t everyone love a “Freebie”? Includes: Pattern Pages to Download, a Youtube clip to watch and this Photo Tutorial with Links to all the Cut n Sew designs on Spoonflower.com + Best of all you can use the Starfish Pattern Pieces with scrap fabric for a Bunch More Fun!!!

So… you’d like to make a Carousel Style Hobby Horse using a Spoonflower Cut n Sew Design but the Stick Cover pieces are on a separate piece of fabric & you have no idea how to ‘extract’ the required Strips…right? Well it isn’t as complicated as it you might think! Follow this photo series to learn how…

Oopsy! What do you do when your Hobby Horse Bridle does not fit properly? A “wardrobe malfunction” can be embarrassing, can’t it? Help is available!

Learn how to custom fit a Bridle to your “Wish for a Pony” Hobby Horse or Spoonflower Cut n Sew Faux Suede Horse. Understand why size differences can occur depending on the fabric and materials chosen. Make small corrections for a perfectly fitting Bride so your Hobby Horse is ready for play or display!

If you don’t like hand sewing this method of elastic ‘bit’ construction minimises the need for a needle and thread. Machine Zigzag stitch is used instead of Whip Stitch as described in the “Wish for a Pony” Sewing Pattern PDF.

Below is a portion of the PDF page showing the Whip Stitch

Portion of PDF Page showing Whip Stitch

The “Wish for a Pony” Sewing Pattern PDF shows the folded Elastic being sewn entirely by hand. However, there is another Method that combines Machine Zigzag and a small amount of hand sewing.

Determined not to let Arthritis stop her from making Hobby Horses for her Grandchildren Maker Therese has kindly given permission for her methods to be shared on my Just Bananas Over Soft Toys Blog! Having experienced the inconvenience of stiff fingers and Arthritis in my own hands I appreciate the effort Therese has put into taking the following photos. Those with less nibble fingers may find it helpful to use the tutorial in conjunction with the “Wish for a Pony” Sewing Pattern PDF available on Etsy.

Maker Therese writes “Some may prefer this method, others may not. I’ve learned a great deal of my crafts and hobbies from others who shared with me. I’m just passing on the tradition. If this helps others to sew this wonderful hobby horse and get more of what is beautiful and creative into the world, I’m all for it… I’ve worked out another time saver for myself that you may like. I have 19 grand-children so far, with the oldest being 15 years old. You can see why I will be making many of these, and why I’m trying to make it easier on my hands…..I think the beauty of your pattern is that it allows for everyone’s individual creativity. I think the most serious problem that I will have, is to stop sewing them. I love all the possible colors, the variety of yarns, and the sheer joy on a child’s face when I give it to them.”

Determined not to let Arthritis stop her from making Hobby Horses for her Grandchildren Maker Therese has kindly given permission for her method to be shared on my Just Bananas Over Soft Toys Blog! Having experienced the inconvenience of stiff fingers and Arthritis in my own hands I appreciate the effort Therese has put into creating the following photo series. Those with less nibble fingers may find it helpful to use the tutorial in conjunction with the “Wish for a Pony” Sewing Pattern PDF available on Etsy.

Reorganising your Creative Space to make it more practical and user friendly can be challenging especially when you have a limited budget. If you have a Sewing or Craft Room that needs some rearranging this series of Before and After photos might prove helpful and provide the necessary incentive to give your Room a Make Over!

Do you have a creative space that looks like the site of a huge explosion of the ‘creative’ variety? I know I do & sometimes it is difficult to keep the “Organised Chaos” tidy enough to work in so I keep my eyes ‘peeled’ for ways to make it better! My creative space is realistically called “The CraftyMess Room” though my husband loves to tease me by referring to it by the alternative name of “The Messy Craft Room”.

Is it possible to have an inexpensive “honest working craft room” that looks good or do we all have to aim for the ‘high price tag’ glamorous work spaces perpetuated by the glossy magazines? Is it possible for a creative person who also happens to be “Just Bananas Over Soft Toys” to live, hope, dream and create in such a place without going totally crazy trying to keep it in order?